Insight on Business

Insight on Business - The News Hour - June 17, 2013

Insight on Business - The News Hour with Michael Libbie is a production of our advertising agency, Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications and made possible through the support of FUIRSA - "Tax and accounting professionals that will work hard for you until the cows come home."  It can be seen LIVE at 8:45 each Monday morning at Webcast One Live and right back here when you want.

This Just In

The News Hour is off the air on Monday.  One of the things that comes up from time to time is having to spend some additional quality time with our clients.  That is what we're doing on Monday.  So, we have this conflict.  Our client wants to meet to talk about some design issues with a new product we're launching this summer and it's "all hands on deck".  We'll be back next week with Lynn Hicks the business editor from the Des Moines Register.  Come back.

We Would Not Expect Less

In store displays are a great way to connect your message with consumers.  The other day I happened into the Von Maur store located in West Des Moines and saw this.  Classy...

 

Which bring up the question: "What are you doing in your physical location to boost your marketing footprint and...does it match your brand?"

Keeping UP?

Not long ago we started searching for a way to aggregate all the news content we follow and stumbled on Feedly and that is our recommendation to you.  Easy to navigate and it's also mobile.  So, go on...get organized with your news.  You can even bookmark us there as well.  Yay!

Going Deep with The Economist

For a very long time many of us follow The Economist for news about politics, business and world news.  The brand, in the words of the publisher, had gotten "stodgy" and they wanted to shake some things up to get the attention of a new crop of readers.  This from Marketing News:
"According to The Economist’s research, most readers discover the publication in college, Direct Marketing News reported. To target students, The Economist has posted its content on millennial-friendly website Buzzfeed. The magazine also filmed generic campus college scenes with MTV (the school is not identified) and posted videos of them, as well as videos hosted by comedian J.B. Smoove, on a mobile-optimized website with a live Twitter feed and a link to sign up for a free subscription to the magazine’s digital edition. The videos have generated 1.1 million views, with an 85% total play-through rate, according to Direct Marketing News."  Here is the J.B. Smoove video and we have a question after you watch it:

 

So, the questions are:  Is your brand running out of customers?  Is the brand "stodgy" and a little "long in the tooth"?  Is it time to shake it up and attract new customers/clients?  What do you think and what will you do to make it happen?

Still Buying Web Ads?

A couple of weeks ago we wrote about the huge number of on-line ads that people never open. ComScore told us last year that 31% of on-line ads are never viewed.  Well, it's now worse than that.  The latest information is that 46% of on-line ads are never viewed.  Here is the full story from our friends at Ad Age Digital.  The question you need to ask yourself is, "What is better for my brand?  On-line ads or taking a huge crack at pinpointing my brand through social media?"  Your decision...

Less Is Still Best

We share with our clients that simple is often the most successful.  We long for the day when a car dealer or car company creates a simple ad without all the hype.  Or a local business decides that simple and classy is so much better than most of the garbage we see on a regular basis.  Perhaps that is why we really like this new spot from our friends at Southern Comfort.  Whatever is Comfortable is the campaign theme.  This ad is called..."Shampoo".  We likey.

 

You?

And Finally Get Ready For This

Here is an ad created by Leo Burnett Worldwide that speaks to drunken driving.  Remember, this is a public service piece...get ready to get...blown away.

 

Nice stuff.  It was posted a week ago and already has over 6 million views.  BAM!

Thanks for coming by.  We're back and LIVE at 8:45 next Monday on Webcast One LIVE and right back here whenever you want.  If you want to connect, leave us a note here and/or come by our Twitter Feed @InsightADV and our agency Facebook Page is right here.

Insight on Business - The News Hour - April 22, 2013

Insight on Business - The News Hour with Michael Libbie is our look at the world of advertising and marketing.  What works and what might need some work.  Each Monday morning at 8:45 we're live at Webcast One Live and back here whenever you've got time.  To comment or share questions before during or after follow our advertising agency at InsightADV and/or our Facebook Page which is right here. Insight on Business the News Hour is brought to you by FUIRSA Tax - "Working hard for you until the cows come home...even...now."

 

The Social Media Wizard

Perhaps your business has been pitched by one.  It happens every day.  We'll share with you what you should be looking for if you've decided, and we think you should, that social media would be a wise decision for boosting your business.

Social Media?  Get Out...NOW!

What?  Wait a minute!  You know we're always talking about how social media can boost your business success and now we're saying..."Get out!".  Nope, we've not lost our collective minds and we'll share why today.

 

Customer Service Tips From - Chubby Checker?

Never thought you'd see that in a headline huh?  We'll share six tips for super customer service from the man who continues to...twist things up.

 

Peddle Off The Pounds - The Des Moines Cycle Club

What happens when a non-profit sits down and thinks of a better way to become more relevant to the public?  Our guests are Georgie Pease-Libbie (I know her...) and Jason Rose from the Des Moines Cycle Club.  We'll talk about where this idea came from and what it means when a brand re-thinks their mission.  Good stuff that any business can learn from.

 

Best Campaign of the Week

We'll share with you why we think these two campaigns (both for tired older brands) gives new life to their marketing efforts.  But, of course not without some...controversy.

Those stories and your feed back live at 8:45 Monday morning at Webcast One Live or back here whenever you want.

The Friday Wrap for Business

The Friday Wrap is a look at advertising and marketing stories you may have seen, or missed, all laced with our editorial.  Some of the stories we've written about on our advertising agency blog site others are brand new.  If you want to leave a comment, feel free or let's connect on Twitter @InsightADV and our advertising agency Facebook Page is right here.  Let's go:

Old Ads Are Funny

Each day we get Old Ads Are Funny coming direct to our email.  Why?  Because we're in advertising and it's great fun to see what our craft...crafted years ago. We really like the fact that the words of the ad are also given to us in text form...just in case the letters are too small to read.  If you like a little nostalgia and a good grin it's our recommendation of the week.  To check 'em out here's your link to Old Ads Are Funny.

Facebook & The Big Lie

This week Facebook hit one-billion users.  One...billion.  That's a bunch of people and to mark the event Facebook launched a touching tribute to connecting.  All manner of connecting.  The spot, created by agency Wieden+Kennedy is simple but drives the message and it's emotional...which really works.  Knew you want to see it so, here you go:

 

However, when it comes to small to medium size business using Facebook to drive sales far too often marketers don't get it.  Those one billion are simply not going to be attracted to your product or service through magic.  It takes work and an understanding of how to use the tools you're given.  We looked at this in more depth in The Big Lie and here's your link.

Central Iowa Bloggers

The "grand father/mother" of social media connection takes place this morning in West Des Moines at Panera Bread.  CIB has long been a place where friends "in the business of sharing" come together to...visit.  You...going?

So, What's The Goal?

Let's say you're doing a print piece which is going to be direct mail or an insert into a daily newspaper.  Beyond "selling something" your goal should be to have folks NOTICE it.  That's where creative comes in.  This past week we saw this from regional grocery store chain Hy-Vee and it begs (pun intended) to be opened.  We liked it so much we shared the story on our advertising agency blog.  Wanna see "The Goal - Open the Offer" is right here.

Five in Twenty-Four

Yesterday we headed out to visit with the American Business Women's Association and the Central Iowa Chapter.  It was a fun adventure sharing the presentation "Five in 24" or "Five things your company can do in 24-hours to revitalize your sales." So...what did they learn?  We'll let some of the folks who came tell you:

 

Small Budget - Big Story

This weekend is Harvest Tour 2012 a gathering of writers and photographers who have been lured to Central Iowa by our friend Deb Brown and the Chamber of Greater Franklin County. The goal is to have these folks share the rural lifestyle story through their blogs, photos and video.  We've been invited to attend along with writers and marketers from the Midwest, East Coast and a film crew from...Japan. Seriously. So our point?  Let's say you've got a small budget but a big story.  How do you make it so others can learn about what you're doing?  Here's our post on Buzzing in Franklin County.  What's really cool is this method can work for business too...if you work at it and use your "friends with benefits".

Yikes...gotta go kids!  Have a superior weekend!

Insight on Business - August 9, 2011

Insight on Business News Hour with Michael Libbie is our daily look into the world  of advertising, marketing and consumer trends.  Our thoughts on what works, what doesn't and how you might be able to use our experience to expand your market share.  And, you're welcome to comment here on Twitter @MichaelLibbie or @InsightADV or our agency Facebook Page.  Let's go:

Who Do You Listen To?

It's a tough choice for new marketers.  Do you listen to "industry insiders" or consumers when taking a new product or service to market?  Who you listen to effects the outcome of your success.  Our thought has always been to listen carefully to the people whom you are trying to reach.  Our experience is that when you listen to "industry insiders" they will, more often than not, give you an opinion not shared with your consumer niche.  Why?  Because they already have an opinion about their industry backed with product knowledge.  They know what they know about the EXISTING market.  New stuff?  Not so much.  Better, we think, to ask questions of consumers.  It's not as easy and they'll not tell you in thirty seconds what they want, like, need but with a little probing it becomes pretty clear.  How do you do that?  Roll out a survey, ask questions on your blog, get on Facebook and ask, use Twitter...and you might even go out and talk to consumers.  Listening to industry insiders brought us things like "New Coke" and the Edsel...don't make the same mistake.

Do You Know...or Do You Hope?

Let's say you've got a new idea for a product or service.  Before you launch do you KNOW or do you HOPE the consumer will love it?  If you don't know what the consumer is asking for how can you build a better _____?  If you KNOW what the consumer is asking for and, even if there are products and services "out there" that "sort of" match it, knowing how to break those things down and re-construct something that is better, smarter, more easily understood wins.  And...when you KNOW it's a winner you'll put your heart into the marketing side of the business.  For more on that idea here's a related post by Seth Godin.

Television Advertising Spending - Up

Yesterday we reported that P&G is increasing their marketing spend, across the board to the highest level...ever.  Now, even in the face of a shaky economy, smart marketers are increasing their advertising to grab a larger share of the sales and keep consumers interested.  It's the same story we told our clients three years ago.  Now is not the time to duck and run.  Now is the time to increase your market share through new products and more inventive advertising.  While the other shrink...you'll grow.  And, nope, we're not guessing on this...it's what comes with experience.  Television revenues are way up pointing to the fact that business is still seeking...business.  Here's a quick story from our friends at the New York Times.  

Best Car/Truck Ad...EVER?

Yesterday this ad for the Chevy Runs Deep campaign came on.  WOW...  No screaming about "tough stuff", no speeding through the wilderness, no rock climbing, no hood slamming...it got me.  Good stuff:

 

I often wonder if marketers would simply level with people about the story of their brand vs. screaming about it...how much better everybody would be.  THIS is what I mean when you focus on the consumer and his/her story.  Thanks Chevy...nice job.

That's It and Thank You...

Thanks to Bindery One and NatraTurf for making this possible.  Have a fantastic Tuesday and thanks for coming by. - Michael